Join me on my photographic journey through this underrated destination and discover the surreal, spellbound dreamscape of Eastern Europe, (Please note: The term gypsy is sometimes considered pejorative. The Romanian mythology abounds in supernatural creatures. The story ends on a happy note when all kids are free to go back to their parents. She is thought to attack children and because of this a large variety of spells (descntece in Romanian) are used against her. One particular story states that several homes along with one church were submerged by floodwaters when an adjacent slope collapsed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Ielele are charmstresses, women of forests and waters with magic powers living in Romania and populating its folklore. A Visual Tour (Video). The shtriga is often pictured as a woman with a . The Romani were nomadic when they departed India during the Middle Ages. as c. But I knew from an early age I wanted more, she tells me. The classic horror Gothic story was published in 1897 by the Irish writer, and describes the bloody habits and stories of Dracula, a vampire living in a Romanian castle, identified as Bran Castle - you can see it below: Bram Stoker cleverly blended reality with fiction when creating this character. Romani Magic Because of close ties to family and extended kin, it's not surprising to see the Gypsy Witch using a heaping portion of folklore in their magic. I ask Klara if she expected the womans mother to be concerned that her daughter came to visit the Romani people. I read a article under the same title some time ago, but this articles quality is much, much better. The ethnograph Marian Simion Florea wrote: Blajini are fictitious beings, incarnations of dead children not baptized who live at the end of Earth, nearby The Holy water (of Saturday). Once the witch finished taking the milk from all the cows, she went to the man and asked him: - Are you sitting Ivan? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. witch, in some contexts also overlaps with . It's difficult to pin down its genre, but it's about a witch and set in a series of rural villages during the 19th century so let's call it folk horror, a descriptor for films steeped in legends and lore connected to landscape, ritual, and, often, human sacrifice. [1]:1112[2] In the majority of versions, before the earth existed, a boundless ocean called Apa Smbetei was the abode of God and the Devil, seen as master and servant rather than equals. These are embroidered with traditional motifs that vary from region to region. Once the sun sets, Bucharest or Little Paris as they call it starts to show this contagious wild side with plenty of opportunities for amusement, particularly for the younger hip generations. In: Lefter, Lucian-Valeriu. I don't think there is a more culturally destructive force in the world than the so called abrahamic belief systems. This hit the builders with extreme sorrow so they erected the statue as a tribute to the boys sacrifice. Founded in 2013 by Christa Thompson, a geeky single mom who loves myth, legend, folklore, film tourism, and cool history, The Fairytale Traveler, alongside travel stories, travel tips, trip ideas, and travel guides, features product reviews and gift guides on travel gear, gadgets, beauty products, consumer products, pets, home decor, and more. This is related to the concept of soul customs, where every soul is intercepted on its way to heaven by these demons, who force it into hell. strigoi (see . The Romanian holiday Patele Blajinilor (Easter of Blajini) is a way to repay them for the benefits they bring. This (step-) mother of the forest kidnaps little children and enslaves them. The Mysterious House-Burning of the Forgotten Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture. Strigoi or vampires are considered lethargic and . Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches' Hammer) In the bustling city of Bucharest, I get a chance to stop into one of Romanias few true occult shops, the Hathor House. This particular myth has been milked by Hollywood to such an extent that it no longer scares anybody. 8 Urban Legends and Ancient Myths of Romania, Weve all heard of Dracula but do you know any of the other fascinating legends and myths of Romania? She and her coven -- all women of the traditionally itinerant Roma minority -- live at the margins of European society, in the. It is said that a witch kept stealing the milk from a peasants cows. There is a mystery behind this church centred around the statue of a small boy located at the top of a pillar just outside of the sacred property. Among the treasures found were womens bronze and Mesopotamian and Egyptian glass jewelry, Nordic amber beads, and horse-riding gear left in three places alongside pottery and sacrificial offerings. Those who want to spend an evening in a quiet manner can always head on over to the national theatre to attend masterful ballets and operas. Should they be unable to harm the person, the individual is said to become very wise. She counts among her former guests a Shaolin monk and a Wallstreet broker. Shtriga is a vampiric witch in traditional Albanian folklore that sucks the blood of infants at night while they sleep, and then turns into a flying insect (traditionally a moth, fly or bee). We kill the chicken in the backyard.. The real history of witches, however, is dark and, often for the witches, deadly. While we wait for the food to come out, I go outside to photograph her family. Still, this story remains as a warning to all those who dare play with the evil forces without knowing the price that must be paid for the recklessness of their actions. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Then, the restless devils killed the young man and no one ever dared to open the Black Book ever again. about The Mysterious House-Burning of the Forgotten Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture. Romani magic is deeply rooted in their culture, and this folklore is seen in a different way than typical western cultures. What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? 15.The poor boy. It is for this reason that Romanians eat dyed eggs and let the shells flow downstream, from there they believe they will get to the Apa Smbetei, and from there to the Blajini. Instead of saying with my eyes not to see you , she said with my eyes to see you . Identity What Happened When Romania's Most Powerful Witch Moved to LA Mihaela Minca is one of the most powerfuland fearedwitches in Eastern Europe. Its easy to admire Klara. [1]:55, The origin of mountains is explained in a number of ways by the cultures of the different regions of Romania. Klara says that literacy, especially for young girls, remains a problem among the Roma. about Romanias Enigmatic Trovants: Living Rocks That Grow and Move! Hiring someone who knows them makes everything infinitely easier. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Just go ask Twilight those glimmering vampires are nothing like the original! While the two are very similar, blood-drinking is only marginally associated with the vrykolakas. Therefore, one can say that in the study of Romanian mythological supernatural beings, those with evil or malefic . They often shut out outsiders to protect their culture. To me, gypsy means magic and mystery.. It represents evil, as do its counterparts Zmeu and the Balaur. Thank you for your wonderful work. Im not sure if its true, but it most definitely is cool. In his " Romanian Mythology " book, Tudor Pamfile talks about 46, out of which 37 (84%) are malefic creatures or evil spirits, while 8 % are benevolent and 8% neutral. Yay, random models! Another popular story starts from a chant which begins as follows: Oschi, oschi, Scaraoschi! Despite his minor role in the castles history, his reputation continues to draw tens of thousands of visitors a year. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. 10.The voice of Death. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." Usually, before dying, wizards pass on this knowledge to an apprentice, but sometimes such books remain without a master. "While Reading Vasmer's Dictionary" In: Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, introducing citations to additional sources, Traditional Popular Civilisation ASTRA Museum, Youth Without Aging and Life Without Death, "Dragobete 's Day - Celebrating love in the Romanian style", De la tipologia folcloristului finlandez Antti Amatus Aarne la universul basmului romnesc vzut de etnologul Adolf Schullerus, n comparatiune cu legendele antice clasice i n legtur cu basmele popoarelor nvecinate i ale tuturor popoarelor romanice: studiu comparativ, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Folklore_of_Romania&oldid=1147361859, Hora miresei (translated as "Bride's Hora"). So today's post I want to take you into the spiritual world of the Romanian Witch. According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. ( public domain ). She is the opposite of fairies such as Zn. The Bell Witch is the most famous witch in American folklore, and her story is the kind that you'd tell around a campfire. In Romanian mythology and folklore the cult of the mother (Mother of the Earth, The Mother of the Forest, the Mother of Flowers, the Mother of God, the Mother of the Rain) is widespread and is linked to the mystery existence itself, to the life and death circle of life. The most prominent symbol associated with the End Times is that of the earthquake. What Are Some of the Benefits of Healthy Cat Food? Witchcraft has long been seen as a folk custom in the eastern European country, and many of its estimated 4,000 witches are luring customers from Europe, Asia and the United States. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. She found him sitting in a corner of the stable firmly grasping in his hands a big pile of dung. And be gone! Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They often shut out outsiders to protect their culture. This will increase the potency of your broom. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. In the following paragraphs, we will shed some light on Romanias fascinating urban myths, stories, superstitions, and even the occult. -Christa Thompson, This is fascinating! Strong folk traditions have survived to this day due to the rural character of the Romanian communities, which has resulted in an exceptionally vital and creative traditional culture. You need to hire a guide for this one. Hey! and the Devil was said to come to them. The Romani people use a number of distinct dialects descending from the Indo-Aryan family. [Romanian Pluvial Myths In a World Wide Context]. In: Ciubotaru, Silvia. Answer (1 of 3): There are no ghosts in the Romanian folklore. In particular, it eases my mind to learn that the Roma people are paid directly for their services. Waters overflowing and mountains collapsing are both linked to these earthquakes, which are mainly caused by lack of faith, which accelerates the crumbling of the World Pillars. It appears in this article only when directly quoted or out of respect when practitioners or tribal members expressed a preference for it over the alternative Roma.). Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. [1]:3842, The etymology of the word blajin (adj.) The man could see everything, but he could not react in any way, being almost petrified. you can be cursed- but not always by a witch or wizard. The Romanian werewolf lore depicts the monstrous animal as a dying ill person with pale and dry skin. You see, a fire destroyed this establishment in the 17th century, hence the name. Now, lets delve deeper into Romanias scary side, shall we? As Halloween arrives, Dr Ciaran Jones challenges some of the misconceptions relating to the witches of Scotland. Tribal Roma tend to value privacy. In Romanian folklore, Muma Pdurii (Romanian pronunciation:[muma pdurij]) is an ugly and mischievous or mad old woman living in the forest (in the heart of virgin forests, in a hut/cabin or an old tree). Not only the Romanian folklore mentions it, but also Romanian poets like famous George Cobuc. Remaining both devoted to her tribal heritage, and yet in-touch with the world outside it, she inspires me to stay a little closer to my own beginnings. It has also given rise to the Romanian saying pn ajungi la Dumnezeu, te mnnc sfinii ("before you reach God, the saints will eat you"). Pair that with the bones of sacrificial animals and you have yourself a site ofworship of a female deity. There is a lot of prejudice about the gypsy people here, the Romanian womans husband says quietly. It is also a time when organisations, groups and individuals promote and talk about witches and . Now that would be a, Internet Safety for Teens, Pros and Cons of Social Media Use, 20 Beautiful Family Quotes to Make You Feel Like Home, Top Father Daughter Quotes Summarizing the Eternal love, 8 Loving Ways to Prepare for Moving With Kids, How Childhood Trauma Affects Kids And How to Manage It, 4 Simple Suggestions for Promoting Parent Wellbeing, Dealing With Financial Hardship How To Overcome It Together, Vacation Budget Planning How to Save Money for Vacation, YouTube Monetization Tips How to Make Money As a YouTuber, Understanding Motorcycle Insurance Coverage for New Riders, 5 Frugal Living Tips to Change Your Spending Habits, Making Money By Traveling the World Heres How. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Jakobson, Roman (1955). Although most Romani people identify themselves as Christian (as well as some Hindus and Muslims), their traditions and rituals inspired neopagan Romani authors like Patrinella Cooper to popularize a form of witchcraft known as gypsy magic.. Archeologists have concluded this may have been a subterranean temple to nymphs dating back 3,300 years ago. After the 17th century, the castle had been abandoned for many decades, and then a fire destroyed a great part of the castle, leaving it in ruins. I like how smoothly you explained that there is a definite difference between Romani, or Roma, and Romanians. [1]:6768, Sources form Moldova and Bucovina also speak of a great army led by the emperor Constantine, which will conquer all the world's states, and kill everyone save for a few pure ones, which will then repopulate the earth. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Romanians generally perceived the earth as a disc, and they imagined what existed on the other side. DEX, Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 1998, Marian Simion Florea, Cultural Romanian Foundation Publishing House, Bucharest 1994, Michael Hitchcock (1998): Tourism, Tam An Mini, and national identity, Indonesia and the Malay World, 26:75, 124-135: 129. This is a part of Europe that has amazing history, culture, folklore and is a region I am absolutely fascinated with. Witches), whereas the . Pacala is a folk hero, a fictional character in Romanian culture, folklore, and literature. Source: Witches curse as Romania spells out plans to tackle false predictions; Irish Times, 2020/12/16 In the show they showed members of parliament wearing purple as a ward against the curses. (Video), Pompeii Unveiled: Discovering the City's Most Amazing Secrets (Video), What Did Ancient Greece Really Look Like? I feel comfortable with Klara. Charles Leland, an expert in folklore, wrote about Gypsy ways in the late 1800s. And I mean from scratch. Among our dinner guests, Klara manages the conversation in four languagesRomanian, Hungarian, her tribal dialect and English-which she learned from English language television. When they wanted fantastic stories they had stories about the devil playing tricks or saints doing miracles or gold lovers being punished by God etc. For the rest of us, this form of magic shares a lot with the larger practice of modern witchcraft. To finalize the crafting ritual, gently blow on your broom, from the bristles to the end of the handle, so that it may carry and protect you. So lets start with. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As a result, the demon appeared at her window and the young woman only managed to escape him at sunrise when the rooster sang. Her honesty and openness give me the courage to ask her some delicate questions about Romani life. [1] They are attributed with the abilities to transform into an animal, become invisible, and to gain vitality from the blood of their victims. 3 The Bell Witch. Those who wanted to contact the Devil used to go to a crossroad where they called his name or they yelled out loud Hey! I talk with the manager, Chuck Todaro, for several days online and on the phone before booking. The witch became the high priestess of the Wiccan religion, creating a myth of female power and intuitive knowledge of nature so beloved by contemporary feminism. True or not, mysterious deaths occur in Transylvania and local folklore suggests it is the vampiric doings of the strigoi. From perfectly preserved Medieval cities to the tribal magic of the Romani people in the Transylvanian countryside, Romania offers a wealth of untapped beauty for the intrepid pagan traveler. President Traian Basescu and his aides have been known to wear purple on certain days, supposedly to ward off evil. The Greeks traditionally . A not-so-widespread belief is that of a definitive destruction of the earth, whereupon God and the Devil shall divide the souls of the dead among themselves and retire to the moon, who is considered to have been made in the image of the earth to serve a place of retreat after the destruction of the earth. Such imagery as a darkened sun, a bleeding moon and falling stars are associated with the beginning of the End Times. One of them, a woman somewhere in her 30s, is Romanian. Salem Witches, America's Most Infamous Witch Hunt. Some of the most popular clubs and pubs in the city include Shoteria, Bordello, Control, Bamboo, Beat of Angels, Fratelli Social, and many many more. Despite her abbreviated formal education, Klara speaks with swift intellect. in the Balkans and Carpathians. Traditionally, men wore a white shirt and pants (if made of wool they are called iari) with a wide leather belt, usually over the shirt, and a vest sometimes made of leather and embroidered. The dark part, although obscured by this veneer and public ignorance, is just as pervasive as it once was. Richly marked with medieval castles, cities, and ruins, Transylvania is home to the real Count Dracula, portrayed in fiction by Bram Stoker as a vampire. Thats part of my mothers dowry.. In the Romanian literature appear several anecdotes about Pacala, by authors such as Ion Creanga, Ioan . I also love luxury travel, the great outdoors, film tourism, home DIY projects, and being a football mom. She is the opposite of fairies such as Zn. Being a Romany HedgeWitch, I am amused at these stories that were concocted by a faith that believes in a Devil: there has never been one in Witchcraft!!! The Devil and a woman on horseback. In one popular story, at some point, she tries to boil a little girl alive in a soup. Roughly six million years ago, paleo-earthquakes created a type of geological phenomenon called trovants. "Din senin de ap: Facerea Lumii" [Out of Infinite Clear Waters: The Genesis]. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. 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Easter of Blajini is called also Easter of Deaths or Mighty Easter. Among the highlights, we drive the famous Transfgran highway through the Carpathian Mountains. The Church said there are no ghosts, Romanians went with it. As this piece of clay grew into the earth, God laid himself down to sleep. To preserve traditional houses, many village museums have been created in the last century throughout Romania,[5] such as the Village Museum in Bucharest, the Traditional Popular Civilisation ASTRA Museum in Sibiu or the Oltenian Village Museum in Rmnicu Vlcea. The 12 winds are said to sweep up the ashes of people and gather them in the valley of Safed, where the Last Judgement shall be done. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Illustration by Hartmann Schedel ( public domain ). It is in Romania where the vampire myth rules over everything the people do and say. 1.8M views 3 years ago In Romania, the homeland of Dracula and superstition, witches were pretty much spared from the medieval witch-hunts that plagued most of Europe and killed 100,000. Some explain them as the descendants of Adam's son Seth. I make a few phone calls and get ready to head off into Transylvania. Klara notices me looking at it. Thank you so much for this article, I am Gypsy from my Fathers side and I know too that Roma is the pc word but I feel the same as the lady interviewed. Its time to settle in and get ready for my meeting with the Gabor tribe the next day. According to the veterans residing in the villages of the Maramures region, the lakes of this area need human sacrifices from time to time. Homeric texts describe these earth/spirit connections in the (Odyssey, XIII, 103-105);At the head of the harbor is a long-leafed olive tree, and near it is a pleasant, shadowy cave sacred to the nymphs called naiads and again (Odyssey, XVII, 209211);Cold water flowed down from the rock above, and on the top was built an altar of the nymphs where all passers-by made offerings. 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